Photo File: the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended his confrontation with a naval officer during a clash over a disputed plot of land in Abuja, saying he had a duty to intervene when government officials were allegedly assaulted.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday ahead of the FCT Executive Council meeting, Wike criticised a retired Chief of Naval Staff for allegedly deploying serving naval personnel to guard the property in question, calling it an abuse of privilege.

“How can I sit as a minister when government officials are being attacked and beaten up, officials at the level of directors? And I’ll just sit in my office doing what?” he asked.

The altercation occurred on Tuesday in the Gaduwa district when Wike confronted the retired naval officer over what the minister described as an illegal development on an officially allocated plot. According to him, Federal Capital Development Authority staff who attempted to stop the construction were assaulted, prompting his visit.

Wike condemned the use of military officers to obstruct lawful enforcement by FCT authorities. He said many high-ranking Nigerians with land disputes had handled similar issues through proper channels.

“Chief Olusegun Obasanjo will simply call me and say, ‘Minister, I have a problem on this land; can you help?’ General T.Y. Danjuma will call you. They never sent soldiers to attack anybody,” Wike said.

He stressed that the matter should not be interpreted as a confrontation between the FCT Administration and the military. If it were, he said, he would have formally written to the appropriate military authorities.

According to the minister, the core issue is adherence to due process and respect for legally approved land allocations.

Wike reiterated his respect for all institutions, including the armed forces, saying his involvement in the incident was to restore order and ensure that no individual, regardless of status, undermines the rule of law.